Bourbon Chicken Skillet Recipe
This Bourbon Chicken Skillet recipe combines tender, bite-sized chicken thighs with a sweet and tangy bourbon-infused sauce. Pan-seared to golden perfection and simmered in a glossy sauce made with soy, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and aromatic spices, this dish is perfect served over steamed rice and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds for a deliciously flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for coating)
Sauce
- ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (or apple juice if omitting alcohol)
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for slurry)
- 2 tablespoons water
To Serve
- Cooked rice
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Coat the Chicken: In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ¼ teaspoon black pepper until evenly coated. This helps create a slight crust and thickens the sauce later.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, bourbon (or apple juice), hoisin sauce, minced garlic, and ground ginger until well combined.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture into the same skillet over medium heat and bring it to a gentle simmer.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a separate small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry. Stir this into the simmering sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the thickened sauce. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes until the chicken is heated through and well coated.
- Serve: Serve the bourbon chicken hot over cooked rice. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds as desired for added flavor and texture. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitute the bourbon with apple juice for a similar sweetness without the alcohol.
- Using boneless skinless chicken thighs keeps the meat tender and juicy, but you can also use chicken breast if you prefer leaner meat.
- Make sure to stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce gradually to avoid lumps.
- Adjust the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce by varying the amount of brown sugar and vinegar according to your taste.
- This dish pairs perfectly with steamed jasmine or basmati rice to soak up the flavorful sauce.
Keywords: Bourbon chicken, chicken skillet recipe, easy dinner recipe, sweet and savory chicken, quick chicken recipe, Asian-inspired chicken
Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/bourbon-chicken-skillet-recipe/
